Saturday night some friends and I had a Peruvian favorite, Anticuchos (beef hearts,) at a family’s home in San Isidro, Lima. We arrived at about 6:30 pm, and drank some of the family’s homemade Chicha, a malt-like beer made of corn. The drink was sweet and strong. After waiting for a while, Claudia’s mother Carmen arrived with the Anticuchos and everyone feasted. When she heard there were a couple of vegetarians in the group, she brought a huge helping of cheese, olives, corn, and the best bread I’ve ever eaten. We were in awe of the hospitality the family showed: they were so welcoming and warm. After dinner, Senor Choqueneyra brought out what seemed to be his best liquor for everyone to taste. Then, as if the family hadn’t done enough, he opened the bottle of wine some friends had brought as a gift for everyone to share. Here is the night in pictures:

I’ve been living in Lima, Peru for a little over a month now, and in that time, my creativity has really taken a beating. This retrogression is especially unfortunate given that I am here in South America to create a documentary. I’ve shot some interviews and have quite a bit of B-Roll, and am continuing my (mostly directionless) work almost every day. Hopefully, I’ll get a bright idea in this area soon, though my main problem seems to be just that: my inability to create new ideas. My photos aren’t the quality I know they can be. My videos and interviews don’t break the surface. My sketches (or lack thereof) are worse than ever. Aside from going through this artistic lull, my written and spoken English is worsening every day. What career path did I choose again?

Enough of the complaining, right? I realized today as I was surfing the Web for ideas that I couldn’t sit around waiting for inspiration any longer. I have to find it, make it, go out looking for it. From now on, I will force myself to find some piece of inspiration every day, and, with any luck, my right brain will get a jump-start and I can go back to appreciating my own works, or at least working to improve them. These photos are from Day One of my artistic endeavor. Despite looking way too Gringa and Turista, I got some pretty good photographs of the bustling life and bursting colors here in the city. I’d like to get a bit more brave and get some photos of people — most Peruvians really hate the lens.